welcome

Throughout

the world, emphasis is being given for efficient utilization of harvested rain water by reducing deep percolation losses and maximizing benefits from the use of available water resources for assured crop production. One such popular way is by changing from traditional flood irrigation methods to most efficient micro irrigation methods like sprinkler or drip irrigation systems.

In Himachal Pradesh, about 19 per cent of the cultivated area has assured irrigation facilities which are generally occupied for vegetable cultivations. Even after exploitation of all the water sources for irrigation in Himachal Pradesh it has estimated that not beyond 40 of the total cultivable area can be brought under irrigation. Thus at that stage, 60 per cent of area will always remain rainfed (IPH). Harvesting rain-water in small or big ponds is a common feature in hills to sustain vegetable as well as other H V Cash Crops production. Scientific information on efficient utilization of harvested rain-water in relation to soil water retention and transmission characteristics and atmospheric demand needs to be generated. Focus should not only be on profitable crop yields but also on higher water and nutrient use efficiency.

 Functions

as its name suggests, water is delivered at near the plant, drop by drop. Slow application of water in the form of discrete or continuous small droplets through mechanical devices called emitters. Efficient method of providing irrigation water and fertilizers near the plants. Permits the utilization of fertilizers, pesticides and other water soluble chemicals The gravity-fed drip irrigation system will overcome the costs on account of pressurized unit required in general and power supply related requirements

 The

test crop broccoli has a special significance for Himachal Pradesh as it is coming up as a cash crop. The cultivation of broccoli is being promoted keeping in view its medicinal value and market demand. Broccoli is high in vitamins A, C and K as well as dietary fiber; it also contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties.

 Water

Requirement : _________ mm Nutrient Requirement :

150:100:100 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1

To evaluate the effect of gravity fed drip irrigation applied at CPE = 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 on soil and plant water behaviour To evaluate the effect of NPK fertigation on growth, productivity and nutrient uptake at varying drip irrigation levels

Experimental Details
Number of Treatment Combinations : 10 Crop : Broccoli

Variety
Design Replications Number of plots

: Palam samridhi
: RBD : Three : 30

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9

= 100% NPK + 0.6 IW/CPE = 100% NPK + 0.8 IW/CPE = 100% NPK + 1.0 IW/CPE = 100% NPK + 1.2 IW/CPE = 50% NPK + 0.6 IW/CPE = 50% NPK + 0.8 IW/CPE = 50% NPK + 1.0 IW/CPE = 50% NPK + 1.2 IW/CPE = Control (RDF of NPK + 5.0 cm depth of flood irrigation at 8-10 days interval) T 10 = Absolute Control

The

irrigation will be applied through gravity fed drip irrigation system installed at 60 x 45 cm spacing. The drip system will be operated daily for initial 15 days and thereafter on alternate days. In NPK fertigation treatments, water soluble fertilizers viz., 19:19:19 + 0:0:50 + urea will be applied in different calculated proportions injected through overhead fertilizer tank at 8- 10 days interval in 8-10 splits. In fertilization treatment (Control), half of N and whole P and K will be applied at transplanting and remaining 50% N will be applied in two equal splits, one after 30 days of transplanting and second at curd initiation stage. Recommended FYM dose will be applied as per practice. In addition, three absolute control plots will also be kept for determination of fertilizer use efficiency.

Determination

of uniformity coefficient of installed gravity fed drip irrigation system Determination of soil water content at 0-7.5 , 7.515 and 15-30 cm soil depth at regular intervals Determination of relative leaf water content at regular intervals Determination of shoot and root growth parameters at curd initiation stage Marketable yield and B:C ratio Determination of soil available N, P and K at start and end of the experiment Determination of N, P and K uptake Consumptive water use and water use efficiency Meteorological data recording

SOV(Sum of Variance) Total Replication

Degree of freedom T-1 =30 -1=29 R-1 = 03-1=02

Treatment Error

t-1 = 10-1=09 (r-1)(t-1)=2*9=18